Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Admitting failure doesn't meant giving up the goal

Most people know that pride should go before the fall. And the wise know when they've made a mistake and can admit it. Did Reagan pulling out of Lebanon after the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing cost America the Cold War? Did Israel pulling out of the Sinai make Egypt ever more arrogant in its effort to destroy Israel? Did the U.S. pulling out of Vietnam cause all of Southeast Asia to go Communist? Did France pulling out of Algeria destroy the French nation? Did South Africa giving up on apartheid lead to a genocide of the Souther African whites?

One could multiply the list endlessly, but the point is clear. Admitting that a strategy has failed does not necessarily entail a loss of the strategic goals. Indeed, it can often clear the way to achieving those very goals.